Trick to triggering red lights

Dayao12

Dayao12

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Hello Good People!

Found this neat trick that works for almost all red lights.
The myth is that motorcycles cannot trigger red lights to turn green.
In Canada, there are magnetic sensors that lay before most pedestrian walkways. Look for them, they're the large squares/rectangles you see on the ground. Usually the light is triggered when a car rolls over it and the metal from the car activates the magnetic sensors.

For this to work on motorcycles, simply pull up close to the right side of the outline of the square and drop the kickstand right on top of the line. The metal kickstand is enough to activate the sensor. I've tried it on quite a few lights, normally at night where there aren't any motorists, and I havn't had a problem since. Hope it works out for you all!

Cheers & Happy Riding!
 
I always figured it is a weight sensor or something... never thought of magnetics. But yes, it works and most of the intersections in Toronto will trigger (or the car behind you will get it for you). I have never had to drop the kickstand for it though. If you ever see 3 white dots, those are actually put there so bicycles can trigger them. If you ever see the dots (they are pretty big), stop on these and it's a sure thing!
 
Kick stand does not work on some lights / intersection. I actually have to get off the bike to push the pedestrian button. Sucks!
 
250 Matt said:
I always figured it is a weight sensor or something...
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You're right. In the US, they mainly use weight sensors. Good night with the 3 white dots =D Gonna try that!
 
Reza said:
I usually wait 3 minutes if nothing happens i'll just go.
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Seriously? Three minutes is actually pretty long to sit there.

I wrote in another post, but I'll say it here. I was told by a buddy to turn the engine off and back on, and it has actually worked for me at a couple intersections that I used (and actually still do) run on a regular basis (on my way to work).
 
I just watch the pedestrian sign - if it doesn't change in a few seconds then I just blow the light.
By this time I know mostly which lights will trigger and which won't.
Just laziness on the part of the set up crew and I'm not waiting on their problem.
I just treat it as a stop sign.
 
Is it legal to run a red if it doesn't trigger? Don't kno wat other option u would have. Ran into this problem at night and it sucks cause rarely any cars out that late.
 
Tried the kickstand thing and turning on and off the motor....doesn't work where I've been. I wait maybe 30 seconds look both ways and go. Drive way for work has a light at Yonge St. I do the right turn and U turn thing in another drive way Cop said it was cool.
 
It is based on a weight sensor. Anything over 800lbs will trig the loop and it will change. I have already contacted city hall to open a by-law allowing bikes to treat red likes as four-way stops like many other places around the world. I am still waiting for them to get back to me and once I have go go-ahead I will set up a petition form to get them to pass the by-law.

haisam10 said:
Is it legal to run a red if it doesn't trigger? Don't kno wat other option u would have. Ran into this problem at night and it sucks cause rarely any cars out that late.
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Cha0s00100 said:
It is based on a weight sensor. Anything over 800lbs will trig the loop and it will change. I have already contacted city hall to open a by-law allowing bikes to treat red likes as four-way stops like many other places around the world. I am still waiting for them to get back to me and once I have go go-ahead I will set up a petition form to get them to pass the by-law.
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Make sure you post it here once you get a petition started!

I too treat red lights as a stop when I am out at night and there is absolutely no traffic.
Most of the time during the day I will just wait for a car to pull up behind me and then I move a little bit forward so that his/her car triggers the sensor and then we get a green.
But sometimes at 2am at a light that is programmed to stay green in one direction (main road) until the side road sensor gets triggered, and with 0 traffic other than myself, I can potentially be waiting for hours.
Nah uh.
I look both ways twice, and then go on my way.
If I get pulled over I will calmly and simply explain that my bike doesn't trigger that sensor and I have stopped, waited, looked, proceeded, just the way I would at a stop sign. I don't see why this would be a problem at 2am with 0 traffic. My experience with police officers has been pretty good in that I have been able to talk to them and have civilized conversations about my actions (both in my car and on my bike) and their recommended do's and don'ts.
 
Cha0s00100 said:
I have already contacted city hall to open a by-law allowing bikes to treat red likes as four-way stops like many other places around the world. I am still waiting for them to get back to me and once I have go go-ahead I will set up a petition form to get them to pass the by-law.
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Don't hold your breath. The city cannot pass a bylaw concerning the use of city streets if that bylaw contradicts a higher level of law. In this case that higher level of law would be the sections of the Highway Traffic Act that regulate movement through controlled intersections.
 
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My understanding is that after waiting a certain period of time, you can consider the traffic light to be defective or not in proper working order, and proceed as if it was a stop sign. The problems are: 1) I don't recall how long "a certain period of time" is, and 2) good luck explaining it to a cop who only happened to see you pull through, but not the long wait you endured.
 
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